Search

Abstract Plant evolution is driven by key innovations of functional traits that enables their survivals in diverse ecological environments. However, plant adaptive evolution from land to atmospheric niches remains poorly understood. In this study, we use the epiphytic Tillandsioideae subfamily of Bromeliaceae as model plants to explore their origin, evolution and diversification. We provide a comprehensive phylogenetic tree based on nuclear transcriptomic sequences, indicating that core tillandsioids originated approximately 11.3 million years ago in the Andes. The geological uplift of the Andes drives the divergence of tillandsioids into tank-forming and atmospheric types. Our genomic and transcriptomic analyses reveal gene variations and losses associated with adaptive traits such as impounding tanks and absorptive trichomes. Furthermore, we uncover specific nitrogen-fixing bacterial communities in the phyllosphere of tillandsioids as potential source of nitrogen acquisition. Collectively, our study provides integrative multi-omics insights into the adaptive evolution of tillandsioids in response to elevated aerial habitats.

Abstract Biomarkers are not only of significant importance for cancer diagnosis and selection of treatment plans but also recently increasingly used for the evaluation of malignancy development and tumor heterogeneity. Large-size tumors from clinical patients can be unique and valuable sources for the study of cancer progression, particularly to the extent of intratumoral heterogeneity. In the present study, we obtained a series of post-surgery puncture samples from a breast cancer patient with a 4 × 3.5 × 2 cm tumor in its original size. Immunohistochemistry for Ki-67, COX-2, and CA IX was performed and the expression levels within the breast cancer tumor mass were evaluated in the reconstructed 3D models. To further evaluate the intratumoral heterogeneity, we performed high throughput whole transcriptome sequencing of 12 samples from different spatial positions within the tumor tissue. Comparing the reconstructed 3D distribution of biomarkers with projected tumor growth models, asymmetric and heterogeneous expansion of tumor mass was found to be possibly influenced by factors such as blood supply, inflammation and/or hypoxia stimulations, as suggested from the correlation between the results of Ki-67 and CA IX or COX-2 staining. Furthermore, high-throughput RNA sequencing data provided additional information for profiling the intratumoral heterogeneity and expanded the understanding of cancer progression. Digital technology for medical imaging once properly integrated with molecular pathology examinations will become particularly helpful in dissecting out in-depth information for precision medicine. We prospect that this approach, facilitated by rapidly advancing artificial intelligence, could provide new insights for clinical decision-making in the future. Strategies for the continuous development from the present study for better performance and application were discussed.

Abstract Background Carotid artery dissection is an important cause of stroke. However, the predictors of ischemic stroke in patients with carotid artery dissection are controversial. The study aimed to analyze the predictors of ischemic stroke in patients with carotid artery dissection through retrospective medical records. Methods Data of discharged patients diagnosed with carotid artery dissection during 2019–2023 were retrospectively collected. Based on the occurrence of ischemic stroke, the patients were divided into the ischemic stroke or non-ischemic stroke groups. Based on the results of univariate analyses, variables with an associated P value

For titanium alloy parts prepared by selective laser melting (SLM), post-treatment operation is usually utilized to meet the needed surface accuracy and dimensional tolerances. However, the heat treatment process and anisotropy of different surfaces of SLMed titanium alloy can directly affect its machinability. In this study, the anisotropic machinability of SLMed TC4 before and after heat treatment was comprehensively compared by the milling force, surface quality, top-burr and work hardening. The results indicate that the milling force and work hardening degree of top surface of SLMed TC4 material are larger than those of side surface, and top surface the presents the better surface quality and smaller top-burr. It exhibits obvious anisotropic machinability in micro-milling. After heat treatment, the anisotropic machinability between different surfaces of SLMed TC4 materials were significantly reduced. The average surface roughness difference rate of top and side surfaces decreased from 10.08% to 2.79%, and the total average top-burr size difference rate decreased from 19.53% to 9.99%. The difference rate of milling force and work hardening degree of the top and side surfaces both showed a decreasing trend. This work demonstrates that the anisotropic machinability of SLMed TC4 material in micro-milling can be effectively mitigated by the heat treatment process.

Abstract Background Emotional labor is an essential component of nursing practice and is important for Generation Z nursing students born from the mid-1990s to early 2010s. They will become the backbone of the nursing workforce but present more emotional regulation problems. Studies on emotional labor are limited to clinical nurses and influencing factors at the individual level. The impacts of external systems on emotional labor of nursing students have not been explored. This study aimed to quantify the relationship between early clinical exposure and emotional labor and test the moderating effect of family structure on the relationship. Methods The cross-sectional study recruited 467 nursing students using convenience sampling from seven colleges and universities in mainland China. An e-survey created on WJX.CN was used to collect data in January 2023. Emotional labor (surface acting and deep acting) was measured with the Emotional Labor scale. Early clinical exposure (exposure or not and times of exposure) and family structure (nuclear family, extended family, and single-parent family) were assessed with self-reported questions. Descriptive statistics and the linear mixed-effects modeling were used to do the analyses. Results The mean scores of surface acting and deep acting were 26.66 ± 5.66 and 13.90 ± 2.40, respectively. A significant difference in scores of surface acting was not observed for exposure or not, whereas such a significant difference was found for times of exposure. Nursing students from extended families demonstrated significantly lower scores on surface acting while exposed to clinical practice compared with those from nuclear families. Family structure moderated the relationship between times of exposure and surface acting of nursing students when exposed to clinical practice for one time, but the significance disappeared when the times of exposure increased. No significant findings of early clinical exposure on deep acting were observed. Conclusions Early clinical exposure influenced emotional labor, and students from extended families were more likely to get benefits from early clinical exposure. Studies are needed to help students from nuclear families get comparable benefits on emotional labor as those from extended families, and improve deep acting by early clinical exposure.

In-situ experimental observation cannot be an effective method in the impact process of metal cavitation erosion, and the impact damage energy prediction theory has not been established based on a detailed mathematical and physical model. Research has shown that the metal material can be regarded as a sensor to reflect the impact parameters. Soft metal materials such as industrial pure copper with a single α-phase microstructure can be a suitable sensor to detect cavitation erosion effects, revealing the impact behaviors of the cavitation jet through the depth, width and spatial distribution of cavitation pits on the surface. In this scenario, volume loss of cavitation pits on a macro/mesoscale are obtained by three-dimensional surface measurement. A coupled fluid-solid simulation model calculating the impact damage energy on a macro/mesoscale is established based on the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) and the Crystal Plasticity Finite Element Method (CPFEM). Python programming is used to set the trajectory of SPH particles to determine the macro cavitation flow field. IFEM methods were used to construct the prediction theory of cavitation impact energy in a relatively simple exponential equation, establishing the quantitative relationship between cavitation impact damage energy and measured volume of cavitation pits. Compared with conventional measurement and simulation, the present multiscale approaches are assumed as a further step advancement towards calculating the impact damage energy of cavitation water jet.

In this paper, we study an SIRI epidemic model with relapse and free boundaries, which can describe the spreading process of diseases well. At first, the existence and uniqueness of the global solution is proven. And then we obtain some sufficient conditions for the disease spreading and vanishing. We can find an $\mathcal{R}_0$ such that the disease will vanish for $\mathcal{R}_0\leq1$, otherwise, whether the disease will spread or not is determined by the initial infected region $h_0$ and spreading capacity $\mu$ of the spreading front. Moreover, the longtime behavior of the solution is given. Finally, numerical simulations are provided to illustrate the results of the analysis.

Abstract Background Esophageal carcinoma (EC) and gastric cardiac adenocarcinoma (GCA) have high incidence rates in the Chaoshan region of South China. Multifocal esophageal and cardiac cancer (MECC) is commonly observed in this region in clinical practice. However, the genomic characteristics of MECC remains unclear. Materials and methods In this study, a total of 2123 clinical samples of EC and GCA were analyzed to determine the frequency of multifocal tumors, as well as their occurrence sites and pathological types. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to model the relationship between age, sex, and tumor state concerning survival in our analysis of the cohort of 541 patients with available follow-up data. We performed whole-genome sequencing on 20 tumor foci and 10 normal samples from 10 MECC patients to infer clonal structure on 6 MECC patients to explore genome characteristics. Result The MECC rate of EC and GCA was 5.65% (121 of 2123). Age and sex were potential factors that may influence the risk of MECC (p

Abstract Background Autoimmune diseases (ADs) present significant health challenges globally, especially among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) due to their unique developmental stages. Comprehensive analyses of their burden are limited. This study leverages the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 data to assess the global, regional, and national burden and trends of major ADs among AYAs from 1990 to 2021. Methods Utilizing data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2021 for individuals aged 15–39 years, we employed a direct method for age standardization to calculate estimates along with 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) for assessing the age-standardized incidence rates (ASIR), prevalence rates (ASPR), and mortality rates (ASMR) of ADs. The diseases analyzed included rheumatoid arthritis (RA), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), multiple sclerosis (MS), type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), Asthma, and Psoriasis. Trends from 1990 to 2021 were analyzed using Joinpoint regression, providing average annual percentage changes (AAPC) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Result In 2021, the global ASIR, ASPR, and ASMR of RA among AYAs (per 100,000 population) were 9.46 (95% UI: 5.92 to 13.54), 104.35 (77.44 to 137.84), and 0.016 (0.013 to 0.019), respectively. For IBD, the corresponding rates were 4.08 (3.07 to 5.37), 29.55 (23.00 to 37.83), and 0.10 (0.07 to 0.12). MS exhibited rates of 1.40 (0.93 to 1.93), 16.05 (12.73 to 19.75), and 0.05 (0.04 to 0.05), respectively. T1DM had rates of 6.63 (3.08 to 11.84), 245.51 (194.21 to 307.56), and 0.54 (0.47 to 0.60). Asthma demonstrated rates of 232.22 (132.11 to 361.24), 2245.51 (1671.05 to 2917.57), and 0.89 (0.77 to 1.08). Psoriasis showed rates of 55.08 (48.53 to 61.93) and 426.16 (394.12 to 460.18) for ASIR and ASPR, respectively. From 1990 to 2021, the global ASIR of RA (AAPC = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.46 to 0.49), IBD (0.22 [0.12 to 0.33]), MS (0.22 [0.19 to 0.26]), T1DM (0.83 [0.80 to 0.86]), and Psoriasis (0.33 [0.31 to 0.34]) showed increasing trends, whereas Asthma (-0.96 [-1.03 to -0.88]) showed a decreasing trend. The global ASPR of RA (0.70 [0.68 to 0.73]), MS (0.35 [0.32 to 0.37]), T1DM (0.68 [0.66 to 0.69]), and Psoriasis (0.29 [0.27 to 0.32]) also showed increasing trends, whereas IBD (-0.20 [-0.27 to -0.13]) and Asthma (-1.25 [-1.31 to -1.19]) showed decreasing trends. Notably, the estimated global ASMR of RA (-2.35 [-2.57 to -2.12]), MS (-0.63 [-0.86 to -0.41]), T1DM (-0.35 [-0.56 to -0.14]), and Asthma (-1.35 [-1.44 to -1.26]) in AYAs declined. Additionally, the burden of disease for ADs in AYAs varies considerably across continents and between 204 countries and territories. Conclusion ADs among AYAs present a substantial public health burden with notable regional disparities in incidence, prevalence, and mortality rates. Understanding these patterns is essential for developing targeted public health interventions and policies to mitigate the impact of ADs in this population.

Abstract Purpose To develop and validate a multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI)-based radiomics model for predicting lymph-vascular space invasion (LVSI) of cervical cancer (CC). Methods The data of 177 CC patients were retrospectively collected and randomly divided into the training cohort (n=123) and testing cohort (n = 54). All patients received preoperative MRI. Feature selection and radiomics model construction were performed using max-relevance and min-redundancy (mRMR) and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) on the training cohort. The models were established based on the extracted features. The optimal model was selected and combined with clinical independent risk factors to establish the radiomics fusion model and the nomogram. The diagnostic performance of the model was assessed by the area under the curve. Results Feature selection extracted the thirteen most important features for model construction. These radiomics features and one clinical characteristic were selected showed favorable discrimination between LVSI and non-LVSI groups. The AUCs of the radiomics nomogram and the mpMRI radiomics model were 0.838 and 0.835 in the training cohort, and 0.837 and 0.817 in the testing cohort. Conclusion The nomogram model based on mpMRI radiomics has high diagnostic performance for preoperative prediction of LVSI in patients with CC.

Abstract Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a prevalent and debilitating respiratory condition that imposes a significant healthcare burden worldwide. Accurate staging of COPD severity is crucial for patient management and treatment planning. Methods The retrospective study included 530 hospital patients. A lobe-based radiomics method was proposed to classify COPD severity using computed tomography (CT) images. First, we segmented the lung lobes with a convolutional neural network model. Secondly, the radiomic features of each lung lobe are extracted from CT images, the features of the five lung lobes are merged, and the selection of features is accomplished through the utilization of a variance threshold, t-Test, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO). Finally, the COPD severity was classified by a support vector machine (SVM) classifier. Results 104 features were selected for staging COPD according to the Global initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD). The SVM classifier showed remarkable performance with an accuracy of 0.63. Moreover, an additional set of 132 features were selected to distinguish between milder (GOLD I + GOLD II) and more severe instances (GOLD III + GOLD IV) of COPD. The accuracy for SVM stood at 0.87. Conclusions The proposed method proved that the novel lobe-based radiomics method can significantly contribute to the refinement of COPD severity staging. By combining radiomic features from each lung lobe, it can obtain a more comprehensive and rich set of features and better capture the CT radiomic features of the lung than simply observing the lung as a whole.

Abstract Background Refractory Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection inevitably increase the difficulty of drug selection. Here, we described our experience with the use of a novel tetravalent IgY against H. pylori for the treatment of patients with refractory H. pylori infection. Methods Patients were randomly assigned to receive the standard quadruple therapy (amoxicillin, clarithromycin, omeprazole and bismuth potassium citrate ) for 2 weeks or 250 mg of avian polyclonal IgY orally twice a day for 4 weeks. The binding efficacy of IgY to H. pylori antigens was detected by western blotting13. C-urea breath test was performed to evaluate the eradication therap’s efficacy. The side effects of IgY were evaluated via various routine tests. The questionnaire was used to gather clinical symptoms and adverse reactions. Results Western blot analysis showed that tetravalent IgY simultaneously bind to VacA, HpaA, CagA and UreB of H. pylori. Tetravalent IgY had an eradication rate of 50.74% in patients with refractory H. pylori and an inhibition rate of 50.04% against DOB (delta over baseline) of 13C-urea. The symptom relief rate was 61.76% in thirty-four patients with clinical symptoms, and no adverse reactions were observed during tetravalent IgY treatment period. Conclusions Polyclonal avian tetravalent IgY reduced H. pylori infection, and showed good efficacy and safety in the treatment of refractory H. pylori infection patients, which represented an effective therapeutic option of choice for patients with refractory H. pylori infection.

Abstract The prevalent RNA alternative splicing (AS) contributes to molecular diversity, which has been demonstrated in cellular function regulation and disease pathogenesis. However, the contribution of AS in pancreatic islets during diabetes progression remains unclear. Here, we reanalyze the full-length single-cell RNA sequencing data from the deposited database to investigate AS regulation across human pancreatic endocrine cell types in non-diabetic (ND) and type 2 diabetic (T2D) individuals. Our analysis demonstrates the significant association between transcriptomic AS profiles and cell-type-specificity, which could be applied to distinguish the clustering of major endocrine cell types. Moreover, AS profiles are enabled to clearly define the mature subset of β-cells in healthy controls, which is completely lost in T2D. Further analysis reveals that RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs) and FXR1 family proteins are predicted to induce the functional impairment of β-cells through regulating AS profiles. Finally, trajectory analysis of endocrine cells suggests the β-cell identity shift through dedifferentiation and transdifferentiation of β-cells during the progression of T2D. Together, our study provides a mechanism for regulating β-cell functions and suggests the significant contribution of AS program during diabetes pathogenesis.

BackgroundThe prevalence of thyroid nodules (TNs) has been increasing rapidly. However, little is known about the drivers of its high prevalence and tendency of malignancy. This study aimed to analyze the factors influencing the prevalence and malignancy of TNs in the adult population.MethodsA multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling was used to conduct a cross-sectional survey of the population in different iodine uptake areas in Anhui Province. The areas with deficient, adequate, and excess iodine intake were grouped according to population's urine iodine. A questionnaire, laboratory examination and ultrasound diagnosis were conducted on the participants. Nodules were diagnosed and distinguished using ultrasonography. Spearman rank correlation, random forest importance ranking, ROC curve, and unconditional binary logistic regression analyses were used to screen for risk factors.ResultsA total of 1,697 participants (539 males and 1,158 females) aged 18–60 years were included, 355 of whom were diagnosed with TN. The prevalence of TNs was 20.9% and varied in different areas, with 21.9%, 25.8%, and 18.0% in the iodine deficient, adequate, and iodine excess areas, respectively. The prevalence of TNs in females was significantly higher than that in males (24.5% vs. 13.2%) and it increased with age. Female sex (OR, 1.67 [1.21–2.30]), old age (>41 years, OR, 2.00 [1.14, 3.50]) and smoking were risk factors for the development and deterioration of TNs.ConclusionsPatients with TNs should exercise caution when consuming goitrogens and adhere to a scientifically balanced diet. Given the high incidence of TNs in field setting, it is necessary to raise public health awareness among residents and perform regular thyroid ultrasound screening to facilitate early detection and treatment.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is playing an increasingly important role in disease treatment due to the advantages of multi-target, multi-pathway mechanisms, low adverse reactions and cost-effectiveness. However, the complexity of TCM system poses challenges for research. In recent years, there has been a surge in the application of multi-omics integrated research to explore the active components and treatment mechanisms of TCM from various perspectives, which aids in advancing TCM’s integration into clinical practice and holds immense importance in promoting modernization. In this review, we discuss the application of proteomics, metabolomics, and mass spectrometry imaging in the study of composition, quality evaluation, target identification, and mechanism of action of TCM based on existing literature. We focus on the workflows and applications of multi-omics based on mass spectrometry in the research of TCM. Additionally, potential research ideas for future exploration in TCM are outlined. Overall, we emphasize the advantages and prospects of multi-omics based on mass spectrometry in the study of the substance basis and mechanism of action of TCM. This synthesis of methodologies holds promise for enhancing our understanding of TCM and driving its further integration into contemporary medical practices.

Organic composts are significant sources of microplastic (MP) pollution in soils, and their input is much higher in greenhouse agriculture than open-field agriculture. However, how long-term compost application affects MPs pollution in greenhouse soil profiles remains unclear. This study examined MPs characteristics in chicken manure compost and earthworms, exploring the long-term impacts of compost application on MPs accumulation and vertical migration in 0–100 cm soil depth through a 15-year greenhouse experiment. Microplastics abundance was 3965 items kg−1in compost, 191–248 items kg−1in compost-amended soils, and 2.73–4.52 items individual−1in earthworms from compost-amended soils; the latter two increased significantly with compost application and were significantly higher than unamended soils. Soil MPs accumulation from long-term compost amendment contributed 45.4% of the total. The proportion of MPs

Aiming at the issue of crystallization and blockage of drainage system due to the massive calcium loss from the tunnel shotcrete, a self-designed tunnel seepage crystallization modelling system was developed. This system was produced in conjunction with the initial tunnel support shotcrete construction and drainage pipe installation, and is capable of simulating both the seepage process of groundwater in the shotcrete and the process of crystallization in the drainage pipe. Based on three different mechanisms of anti-crystallization, which include absorbing free calcium, reducing the porosity and increasing hydrophobicity, antialkali agent, nano-calcium carbonate, and silane were selected to test, respectively. Firstly, the suitable dosing ranges of these three external admixtures for resisting calcium loss in shotcrete were determined by single factor tests, which were 7%–11%, 4%–8%, and 0.3%–0.5%, respectively. Thereafter, the response surface method was employed to evaluate the interaction of antialkali agent, nano-calcium carbonate and silane on calcium loss in shotcrete, and to establish the relationship between them, and thus to determine the admixture ratio that can effectively reduce calcium loss crystallization in shotcrete, with the optimal admixture amounts of antialkali agent being 9.242%, nano-calcium carbonate 4.889% and silane 0.366%. Lastly, the reliability of the model test results was verified by the microscopic analysis, and the results showed that the total amount of calcium dissolution in the optimized group could be reduced by 75% compared with the blank control group, and was basically consistent with that derived from the response surface regression model, validating the high accuracy of the buildup response surface regression model. The present study can provide some ideas and references for reducing the seepage crystallization behavior of groundwater in the initial tunnel support shotcrete.

Abstract Excitonic systems, facilitated by optical pumping, electrostatic gating or magnetic field, sustain composite particles with fascinating physics. Although various intriguing excitonic phases have been revealed via global measurements, the atomic-scale accessibility towards excitons has yet to be established. Here, we realize the ground-state interlayer exciton complexes through the intrinsic charge transfer in monolayer YbCl3/graphite heterostructure. Combining scanning tunneling microscope and theoretical calculations, the excitonic in-gap states are directly profiled. The out-of-plane excitonic charge clouds exhibit oscillating Rydberg nodal structure, while their in-plane arrangements are determined by moiré periodicity. Exploiting the tunneling probe to reflect the shape of charge clouds, we reveal the principal quantum number hierarchy of Rydberg series, which points to an excitonic energy-level configuration with unusually large binding energy. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of mapping out the charge clouds of excitons microscopically and pave a brand-new way to directly investigate the nanoscale order of exotic correlated phases.

Abstract Background The diagnosis of adolescent Depressive Disorder (DD) lacks specific biomarkers, posing significant challenges. This study investigates the potential of Niacin Skin Flush Response (NSFR) as a biomarker for identifying and assessing the severity of adolescent Depressive Disorder, as well as distinguishing it from Behavioral and Emotional Disorders typically emerging in childhood and adolescence(BED). Methods In a case-control study involving 196 adolescents, including 128 Depressive Disorder, 32 Behavioral and Emotional Disorders, and 36 healthy controls (HCs), NSFR was assessed. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and anxious symptoms with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7). Pearson correlation analysis determined the relationships between NSFR and the severity of depression in DD patients. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) was used to identify DD from BED integrating NSFR data with clinical symptom measures. Results The adolescent Depressive Disorder group exhibited a higher rate of severe blunted NSFR (21.4%) compared to BED (12.5%) and HC ( 8.3%). Adolescent Depressive Disorder with psychotic symptoms showed a significant increase in blunted NSFR (p = 0.016). NSFR had negative correlations with depressive (r = -0.240, p = 0.006) and anxious (r = -0.2, p = 0.023) symptoms in adolescent Depressive Disorder. Integrating NSFR with three clinical scales improved the differentiation between adolescent Depressive Disorder and BED (AUC increased from 0.694 to 0.712). Conclusion The NSFR demonstrates potential as an objective biomarker for adolescent Depressive Disorder, aiding in screening, assessing severity, and enhancing insights into its pathophysiology and diagnostic precision.

Abstract Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) are the leading causes of progressive dementia related to neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular injuries in elderly populations. Despite decades of research, patients with these conditions still lack minimally invasive, low-cost, and effective diagnostic and treatment methods. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a vital role in AD and PSCI pathology. As they are easily obtained from patients, miRNAs are promising candidates for the diagnosis and treatment of these two disorders. In this study, we performed complete sequencing analysis of miRNAs from 24 participants, split evenly into the PSCI, post-stroke non-cognitive impairment (PSNCI), AD, and normal control (NC) groups. To screen for differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs) in patients, we predicted their target genes using bioinformatics analysis. Our analyses identified miRNAs that can distinguish between the investigated disorders; several of them were novel and never previously reported. Their target genes play key roles in multiple signaling pathways that have potential to be modified as a clinical treatment. In conclusion, our study demonstrates the potential of miRNAs and their key target genes in disease management. Further in-depth investigations with larger sample sizes will contribute to the development of precise treatments for AD and PSCI.

Abstract Purpose To examine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of caregivers of children with Kawasaki disease toward Kawasaki disease. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted at four hospitals in China from March 2023 to June 2023. The KAP scores were evaluated using a self-designed questionnaire (Cronbach’s α = 0.840; KMO = 0.7381). Correlations between dimension scores were evaluated by Pearson correlation analysis. A structural equation model (SEM) was used to examine the relationships among factors. Results Of 643 surveyed, 49.50% were male caregivers. The mean knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were 7.12 ± 2.34 (possible range, 0–11), 29.23 ± 5.67 (possible range, 12–60), and 21.57 ± 5.34 (possible range, 6–30). Knowledge correlated with attitude (r = 0.172, P

A submerged cavitation water jet (SCWJ) is an effective method to recycle solid propellant from obsolete solid engines by the breaking method. Solid propellant’s breaking modes and mechanical process under SCWJ impact are unclear. This study aims to understand those impact breaking mechanisms. The hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) propellant was chosen as the research material, and a self-designed test system was used to conduct impact tests at four different working pressures. The high-speed camera characterized crack propagation, and the DIC method calculated strain change during the impact process. Besides, micro and macro fracture morphologies were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and computed tomography (CT) scanning. The results reveal that the compressive strain concentration region locates right below the nozzle, and the shear strain region distributes symmetrically with the jet axis, which increases to 4% at first 16th ms, the compressive strain rises to 2% and 6% in the axial and transverse direction, respectively. The two tensile cracks formed first at the compression strain concentrate region, and there generate many shear cracks around the tensile cracks, and those shear cracks that develop and aggregate cause the cracks to become wider and cut through the tensile cracks, forming the tensile-shear cracks and the impact parts eventually fail. The HTPB propellant forms a breaking hole shaped conical after impact 10 s. The mass loss increases by 17 times at maximum, with the working pressure increasing by three times. Meanwhile, the damage value of the breaking hole remaining on the surface increases by 7.8 times while 2.9 times in the depth of the breaking hole. The breaking efficiency is closely affected by working pressures. The failure modes of HTPB impacted by SCWJ are classified as tensile crack-dominated and tensile-shear crack-dominated damage mechanisms.

AbstractNanosecond pulsed laser induced photoporation has gained increasing attention from scholars as an effective method for delivering the membrane-impermeable extracellular materials into living cells. Compared with femtosecond laser, nanosecond laser has the advantage of high throughput and low costs. It also has a higher delivery efficiency than continuous wave laser. Here, we provide an extensive overview of current status of nanosecond pulsed laser induced photoporation, covering the photoporation mechanism as well as various factors that impact the delivery efficiency of photoporation. Additionally, we discuss various techniques for achieving photoporation, such as direct photoporation, nanoparticles-mediated photoporation and plasmonic substrates mediated photoporation. Among these techniques, nanoparticles-mediated photoporation is the most promising approach for potential clinical application. Studies have already been reported to safely destruct the vitreous opacities in vivo by nanosecond laser induced vapor nanobubble. Finally, we discuss the potential of nanosecond laser induced phototoporation for future clinical applications, particularly in the areas of skin and ophthalmic pathologies. We hope this review can inspire scientists to further improve nanosecond laser induced photoporation and facilitate its eventual clinical application.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the leading causes of dementia and is characterized by memory loss, mental and behavioral abnormalities, and impaired ability to perform daily activities. Even as a global disease that threatens human health, effective treatments to slow the progression of AD have not been found, despite intensive research and significant investment. In recent years, the role of infections in the etiology of AD has sparked intense debate. Pathogens invade the central nervous system through a damaged blood–brain barrier or nerve trunk and disrupt the neuronal structure and function as well as homeostasis of the brain microenvironment through a series of molecular biological events. In this review, we summarize the various pathogens involved in AD pathology, discuss potential interactions between pathogens and AD, and provide an overview of the promising future of anti-pathogenic therapies for AD.

Abstract Vegetation optical depth (VOD) satellite microwave retrievals provide significant insights into vegetation water content and responses to hydroclimatic changes. While VOD variations are commonly linked to dry biomass and live fuel moisture content (LFMC), the impact of canopy temperature (Tc) remains overlooked in large‐scale studies. Here, we investigated the impact of Tc on L‐band (1.4 GHz) and X‐band (10.7 GHz) VOD at diurnal and seasonal timescales. Synthetic benchmark VOD was created using realistic fields of Tc, LFMC, and biomass in an electromagnetic model. Perturbation experiments revealed that Tc strongly affects diurnal VOD variations at both L‐band and X‐band. Seasonally, while biomass emerges as the largest contributor to VOD variations in 70% (at X‐band) and 90% (at L‐band) of our study region, Tc and LFMC still play substantial roles. The findings stress the importance of refining retrieval algorithms to distinguish Tc, LFMC, and biomass effects for future VOD applications in ecohydrology.

Objectives: Glucose fluctuations are more harmful than persistent hyperglycemia for chronic complications of diabetes. However, the relationship between cognition and glucose fluctuations in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) complicated by type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the association between short-term glucose fluctuations and cognition in patients with AIS complicated by T2DM. Design: A cohort study with a 2-year follow-up. Setting and participants: We included 554 patients with mild AIS (mean age: 62 years; 170 females and 384 males). Measurements: Glucose variability (GV) was evaluated using glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), stress hyperglycemia (SHR), standard deviation of blood glucose (SDBG), mean postprandial blood glucose (MPBG), mean amplitude of glycemic excursion (MAGE), and time in range (TIR). We evaluated the relationship between GV, fasting blood glucose (FBG) and cognition during the acute phase using linear regression analysis. We evaluated the relationship between GV, FBG and the occurrence of post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) using a logistic regression model. Mediation analyses were fitted to explore whether the relationships of HbA1c with cognition were mediated by cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). Results: A clear pattern of age-related GV was observed. Higher SHR in middle-aged participants; higher HbA1c, and lower TIR in older participants; and higher MAGE, MPBG, and SDBG across a broad age range (50–80 years) were associated with cognitive impairment in the acute phase of AIS. Higher SHR and SDBG together with lower TIR in middle-aged participants, higher HbA1c in older participants, and higher FBG, MPBG, and MAGE across a broad age range (50–80 years) were associated with the occurrence of PSCI. The association between HbA1c and cognition was partially mediated (proportion: 7–16%) by CSVD. Conclusions: Short-term glucose fluctuations are associated with cognition and a higher risk of PSCI in patients with AIS complicated by T2DM. CSVD might play an important role in the relationship between short-term glucose fluctuations and cognition.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline and memory loss. Despite advances in understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms of AD, effective treatments remain scarce. Lithium salts, recognized as mood stabilizers in bipolar disorder, have been extensively studied for their neuroprotective effects. Several studies indicate that lithium may be a disease-modifying agent in the treatment of AD. Lithium’s neuroprotective properties in AD by acting on multiple neuropathological targets, such as reducing amyloid deposition and tau phosphorylation, enhancing autophagy, neurogenesis, and synaptic plasticity, regulating cholinergic and glucose metabolism, inhibiting neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis, while preserving mitochondrial function. Clinical trials have demonstrated that lithium therapy can improve cognitive function in patients with AD. In particular, meta-analyses have shown that lithium may be a more effective and safer treatment than the recently FDA-approved aducanumab for improving cognitive function in patients with AD. The affordability and therapeutic efficacy of lithium have prompted a reassessment of its use. However, the use of lithium may lead to potential side effects and safety issues, which may limit its clinical application. Currently, several new lithium formulations are undergoing clinical trials to improve safety and efficacy. This review focuses on lithium’s mechanism of action in treating AD, highlighting the latest advances in preclinical studies and clinical trials. It also explores the side effects of lithium therapy and coping strategies, offering a potential therapeutic strategy for patients with AD.

Inhibiting the death receptor 3 (DR3) signaling pathway in group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s) presents a promising approach for promoting mucosal repair in individuals with ulcerative colitis (UC). Paeoniflorin, a prominent component of Paeonia lactiflora Pall., has demonstrated the ability to restore barrier function in UC mice, but the precise mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to delve into whether paeoniflorin may promote intestinal mucosal repair in chronic colitis by inhibiting DR3 signaling in ILC3s. C57BL/6 mice were subjected to random allocation into 7 distinct groups, namely the control group, the 2 % dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) group, the paeoniflorin groups (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg), the anti-tumor necrosis factor-like ligand 1A (anti-TL1A) antibody group, and the IgG group. We detected the expression of DR3 signaling pathway proteins and the proportion of ILC3s in the mouse colon using Western blot and flow cytometry, respectively. Meanwhile, DR3-overexpressing MNK-3 cells and 2 % DSS-induced Rag1−/− mice were used for verification. The results showed that paeoniflorin alleviated DSS-induced chronic colitis and repaired the intestinal mucosal barrier. Simultaneously, paeoniflorin inhibited the DR3 signaling pathway in ILC3s and regulated the content of cytokines (Interleukin-17A, Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, and Interleukin-22). Alternatively, paeoniflorin directly inhibited the DR3 signaling pathway in ILC3s to repair mucosal damage independently of the adaptive immune system. We additionally confirmed that paeoniflorin-conditioned medium (CM) restored the expression of tight junctions in Caco-2 cells via coculture. In conclusion, paeoniflorin ameliorates chronic colitis by enhancing the intestinal barrier in an ILC3-dependent manner, and its mechanism is associated with the inhibition of the DR3 signaling pathway.

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides ssp. sinensis) is a deciduous shrub or small tree in the Elaeagnaceae family. It is dioecious, featuring distinct structures in female and male flowers. The MADS-box gene family plays a crucial role in flower development and differentiation of floral organs in plants. However, systematic information on the MADS-box family in sea buckthorn is currently lacking. This study presents a genome-wide survey and expression profile of the MADS-box family of sea buckthorn. We identified 92 MADS-box genes in the H. rhamnoides ssp. Sinensis genome. These genes are distributed across 12 chromosomes and classified into Type I (42 genes) and Type II (50 genes). Based on the FPKM values in the transcriptome data, the expression profiles of HrMADS genes in male and female flowers of sea buckthorn showed that most Type II genes had higher expression levels than Type I genes. This suggesting that Type II HrMADS may play a more significant role in sea buckthorn flower development. Using the phylogenetic relationship between sea buckthorn and Arabidopsis thaliana, the ABCDE model genes of sea buckthorn were identified and some ABCDE model-related genes were selected for qRT-PCR analysis in sea buckthorn flowers and floral organs. Four B-type genes may be involved in the identity determination of floral organs in male flowers, and D-type genes may be involved in pistil development. It is hypothesized that ABCDE model genes may play an important role in the identity of sea buckthorn floral organs. This study analyzed the role of MADS-box gene family in the development of flower organs in sea buckthorn, which provides an important theoretical basis for understanding the regulatory mechanism of sex differentiation in sea buckthorn.

IntroductionTo characterize the influence of female-specific hormones on women’s thyroid function, the study investigated the influence of extra progestin from oral contraceptives on inducing thyroid dysfunction.MethodsSixty female Wistar rats were divided into six groups based on levonorgestrel or desogestrel administration as the main active agents: control, low (0.0039 mg*20-fold), medium (0.0039 mg*100-fold), high (0.0318 mg*100-fold) levonorgestrel (pure product); and low (0.0083 mg*20-fold) and high (0.0083 mg*100-fold) desogestrel (pure product). Progestin was administered by gavage every 4 days for 1 month. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way analysis of variance and the Kruskal–Wallis test.ResultsFollowing levonorgestrel gavage, serum free T4 and thyroidstimulating hormone levels were significantly lower in the experimental group than that in the control group (p=0.013 and 0.043). After desogestrel gavage, the serum free T4 and free T3 levels were lower in the experimental group than that in the control group (p=0.019 and 0.030). Thyroid hormone antibody concentrations were lower in rats administered levonorgestrel and desogestrel than that in control rats. Moreover, exposure to progestin upregulated the expression of the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor and sodium iodide symporter in thyroid.DiscussionProgestin stimulation enhanced the proliferation of follicular epithelial cells in rat thyroid tissues. Progestin exposure could cause thyroid dysfunction by upregulating the transcription of thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor and sodium iodide symporter in thyroid, thus inducing pathomorphological changes in rats’ thyroid.

Abstract In recent years, deep artificial neural networks have attracted much attention and have been applied in various fields because they surpass the parameter fitting effect of traditional methods under the condition of data convergence. On the other hand, limited transmission bandwidth and storage capacity make image compression necessary in communication. Here, a compression algorithm that combines the K‐means clustering algorithm with the neural network algorithm is proposed. First, the pixel points of the image are clustered by K‐means algorithm in order to reduce the amount of data input to the neural network algorithm. Secondly, neural network is used to extract image features which realizes further compression. The experiment results show that the peak signal‐to‐noise ratio (PSNR) is 33.48 dB at most with compression ratio at 32:1. The ablation experiment shows that the run time speeds up 9.5% compared to the algorithm without K‐means clustering. Comprehensive comparison experiment shows that the average PSNR is 30.09 dB, which is larger than other baseline approaches. The proposed algorithm is an efficient solution for image compression.

Abstract Background While the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in millions of cases worldwide, there is increasing recognition of a wide range of ocular manifestations associated with the virus, including uveitis. Uveitis is an inflammatory condition of the uveal tract of the eye that can lead to permanent vision loss if not treated promptly. Here we report a retrospective observational study of patients who presented with new onset or recurrent uveitis following COVID-19 infection. Methods This is a retrospective observational study conducted at the Beijing Tongren Hospital. We identified patients who presented with symptoms of non-infectious active uveitis with positive real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of COVID-19 within 4 weeks. All patients received ophthalmic examinations, including anterior and posterior segment imaging, to assess the extent of ocular involvement. Results The 18 patients with a total of 33 eyes included in this study presented with symptoms of active uveitis within 4 weeks of their positive COVID-19 RT-PCR test. Among them, 9 patients presented with the development of uveitis following COVID-19 infection, and 9 patients had relapsed uveitis after COVID-19 infection. Treatment with corticosteroids resulted in improvement of symptoms and resolution of inflammation in all cases. In this study, all patients did not experience any adverse drug reactions during treatment. Conclusion Our observational study highlights the potential for new onset or recurrence of uveitis following COVID-19 infection. Trial registration https://www.chictr.org.cn/ ; identifier: ChiCTR2100044365, date: 03/17/2023.

Abstract Crosstalk has become an urgent issue for single-photon avalanche diode arrays. In previous work, trenches were introduced between pixels to block the crosstalk optical path in planar InGaAs/InP single-photon avalanche diode arrays, since the optical crosstalk was considered as the main crosstalk mechanism. However, the crosstalk suppression effect of this solution is not satisfactory. Here, we demonstrate a carrier extraction structure to efficiently reduce crosstalk by electrically guiding photogenerated crosstalk holes in the non-pixel region to the surface, since we find that the optical-electrical crosstalk is the dominant crosstalk mechanism. Experimental measurements show that a narrow carrier extraction structure makes a 91.52% (96.22%) crosstalk reduction between the nearest neighbor pixels in arrays with 100 (50) μm pixel pitch, and it does not cause any etching damage. These results reveal the primary source of crosstalk in InGaAs/InP single-photon avalanche diode arrays and provide a practical route to fabricate low-crosstalk, high-pixel-density arrays for use in high-resolution three-dimensional imaging and quantum technologies.

Abstract Ancient pottery, having endured prolonged burial in soil, invariably underwent the process of glaze corrosion. The micromorphology and structural composition of four lead-glazed pottery fragments dating back to the Han Dynasty, excavated in the Qinhan New Town within Xixian New area of Xi’an are elucidated by comprehensive analysis method. The results reveal that the corrosion products predominantly comprised PbCO3, Pb3(PO4)2, CaCO3, and Ca3(PO4)2. Concurrently, the presence of organic substances exhibiting characteristic self-excitation fluorescence in the cracks of the sample is identified through fluorescence microscopy and Fourier infrared spectroscopy. Through a comparative analysis of well-preserved and severely corroded samples, taking into account compositional analysis, observations of corrosion morphology, and the characteristics of corrosion products, it is deduced that the primary corrosion mechanisms involve chemical corrosion, microbial corrosion, and crack corrosion. This study provides a comprehensive depiction of glaze corrosion process inherent to lead-glazed pottery and establishes corresponding corrosion models.

Abstract Background In this study, we report a case series of acute macular neuroretinopathy (AMN) associated with COVID-19 infection. Methods This retrospective observational study was conducted at Beijing Tongren Hospital. We reviewed patients who were diagnosed with AMN within one month of testing positive for COVID-19 using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results A total of 11 AMN patients (20 eyes) were included in the study. The mean age was 33.8 ± 12.6 years. The average interval between a positive COVID-19 PCR test and the onset of ocular symptoms was 2.8 ± 2.5 days. The mean follow-up period for the patients was 12.5 ± 3.8 weeks. Imaging characteristics of AMN patients following COVID-19 infection included areas of low reflectivity on near-infrared reflectance (NIR) imaging, hyperreflective lesions at the level of the outer plexiform layer (OPL) and outer nuclear layer (ONL) and disruption of the ellipsoid zone (EZ) on spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) B-scans. Visual field examinations revealed parafoveal scotomas that closely corresponded to the clinical lesions. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) demonstrated impaired perfusion in the deep retinal vascular plexus. Fluorescein angiography (FA), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), and spontaneous fundus autofluorescence showed no significant abnormalities. During follow-up, partial improvement in retinal lesions was observed in NIR imaging and SD-OCT in some patients, but a proportion of patients still exhibited persistent retinal damage and no improvement in visual field scotomas. Conclusion COVID-19-related AMN share similar clinical and imaging features with AMN due to other causes, as evidenced by the persistent presence of visual field scotomas over a longer duration. Trail registration https://www.chictr.org.cn/ ; identifier: ChiCTR2100044365

Abstract Underwater pottery relics salvaged from shipwrecks are vulnerable to physical, chemical and biological corrosion. In this study, the microscopic morphology and structural composition of glazed pottery fragments excavated from the South China Sea as well as purple clay teapot samples from the Yangtze River Estuary II shipwreck were analyzed by means of optical microscopy, scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive spectrometer, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier infrared transform spectroscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy. According to the research results, the corrosion products deposited on the surface of the glazed pottery fragment from the South China Sea mainly included FeOOH and MnO2, whereas those on the surface of the purple clay teapot fragment from the Yangtze River Estuary II shipwreck primarily incorporated FeS2 and FeS. According to the corrosion phenomenon, it was speculated that the underwater pottery relics were mainly corroded by different microorganisms in the underwater environment, including manganese-oxidizing bacteria, dissimilatory metal-reducing bacteria and sulfate-reducing bacteria. As the corrosion process of these cultural artifacts was described and related models were established, this study provides valuable reference for the disease removal and protection of pottery relics.

Through the geometric relationships and force analysis of the main components of pantographs on high-speed trains, the coefficients of aerodynamic forces and lift transmission between the pantograph and main components under crosswind conditions were derived. Based on the aerodynamic forces acting on the pantograph at different crosswind speeds, wind angles, and operating speeds, the aerodynamic lift of the pantograph and main components was ultimately determined. The results indicate that the aerodynamic lift of the pantograph is mainly distributed on the bow structure, with the aerodynamic lift of the upper frame all being negative values, while the absolute value of the aerodynamic lift of the lower arm rod is the smallest. The operating speed of the pantograph and the wind angle of the crosswind have a significant impact on the aerodynamic lift of the main components, while the impact of the crosswind speed is relatively small. At the same operating speed of the pantograph, the lower the corresponding crosswind speed, the smaller the aerodynamic lift of the pantograph. The aerodynamic lift of the pantograph tends to decrease gradually with the increase in crosswind speed, and the impact of crosswind speed decreases gradually with the increase in the pantograph operating speed. A comprehensive relationship formula between the aerodynamic lift of the pantograph and the operating speed, crosswind speed, and wind angle is obtained, and the empirical formula for the contact force of the bow net and train operating speed is modified. The research results are of great significance and value for the study and application of lift forces on pantographs under crosswind conditions.

Fruit length (FL) is an important economical trait that affects fruit yield and appearance. Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duch) contains a wealth genetic variation in fruit length. However, the natural variation underlying differences in pumpkin fruit length remains unclear. In this study, we constructed a F2 segregate population using KG1 producing long fruit and MBF producing short fruit as parents to identify the candidate gene for fruit length. By bulked segregant analysis (BSA-seq) and Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR (KASP) approach of fine mapping, we obtained a 50.77 kb candidate region on chromosome 14 associated with the fruit length. Then, based on sequence variation, gene expression and promoter activity analyses, we identified a candidate gene (CmoFL1) encoding E3 ubiquitin ligase in this region may account for the variation of fruit length. One SNP variation in promoter of CmoFL1 changed the GT1CONSENSUS, and DUAL-LUC assay revealed that this variation significantly affected the promoter activity of CmoFL1. RNA-seq analysis indicated that CmoFL1 might associated with the cell division process and negatively regulate fruit length. Collectively, our work identifies an important allelic affecting fruit length, and provides a target gene manipulating fruit length in future pumpkin breeding.

Objective: This paper explores sociodemographic determinants and geographic disparities in COVID-19 booster uptake among fully vaccinated adults in Nueces County, Texas, USA with a population of over 353,000. Methods: A logistic generalized additive model was applied to analyze 184,252 official vaccination records of fully vaccinated adults over the period between December 2020 and August 2022. An individual's odds in receiving a booster shot were estimated with a host of sociodemographic characteristics as predictors. Results: Model estimation results reveal that male (odds ratio 0.836, 95% confidence interval 0.835–0.836, p

BackgroundHypertension is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases among the older adult population in China and older adults with hypertension are more susceptible to mental health problems. This study aimed to explore the network structure of depression and anxiety, and their association with life satisfaction (LS) in older adults with hypertension.MethodsA total of 4,993 hypertensive individuals aged 60 and above were selected from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS 2017–2018). The design of the CLHLS study was approved by the Campus Institutional Review Board of Duke University (Pro00062871) and the Biomedical Ethics Committee of Peking University (IRB00001052-13,074). The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-10 (CESD-10) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (GAD-7) were used to assess depressive and anxiety symptoms. Central and bridge symptoms were identified via “Expected Influence” and “Bridge Expected Influence”, respectively. Network stability was assessed using the case-dropping bootstrap technique.ResultsNetwork analysis identified CESD3 (Feeling blue/depressed), GAD4 (Trouble relaxing), and GAD2 (Uncontrollable worry) as the most influential central symptoms in the network of depression and anxiety. Concurrently, GAD1 (Nervousness or anxiety), CESD10 (Sleep disturbances), and CESD1 (Feeling bothered) stand as critical bridge symptoms between depression and anxiety disorders. Moreover, CESD7 (Lack of happiness) exhibited the strongest negative correlation with LS in Chinese hypertensive older adults.ConclusionThis exploratory study represents the first investigation to examine the mutual relationship between depressive and anxiety symptoms among Chinese hypertensive older adults. Interventions addressing targeting bridge symptoms have the potential to alleviate depressive and anxiety symptoms. Furthermore, improving happiness, hope, and sleep quality in this population may mitigate the adverse effects of depression and anxiety on LS.

Drying is the main energy consumption in the grain industry. At present, most grain drying are using machines or drying towers, but its heat loss and energy consumption is large. Some of dryers use coal as heat source and cause serious environmental pollution. In addition, the long-term storage of grain is prone to mildew and insect pests. At the same time, long-term storage of grain will lead to low water content of grain and affect the processing quality of grain. Therefore, it’s significant to realize the high-quality-low-energy consumption drying and long-term safe storage of grain to ensure the quality of exported grain. A multifunctional grain storage system with low temperature drying, refrigeration, and humidification was proposed. The equipment was developed according to the system. It had three functions such as low temperature drying mode, low temperature storage mode, and humidification mode. The equipment can realize “one-stop” grain storage and automatic control of the whole process of grain storage. The experimental results showed the air parameters of unit outlet met the design requirements in the three working modes. The average drying rates of corn and radish were about 1.1%/h and 2.9%/h, respectively. In addition, the unit can save about 19.4% of energy compared with the dryer, and 51.7% of energy compared with the condensing and dehumidifying dryer through the energy consumption analysis of the system. The driving energy of this equipment was electric, so it was eco- friendly and easy to realize the intelligent construction of granary, coming with a prospect of broad application.

Abstract X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy energy spectrum, excitation-emission matrix spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was applied to the unearthed jade with multilayered corrosion, to reveal the microstructure, composition structure, and distribution of organic matters. Our results showed that the interior of the jade was mainly composed of layered serpentine with a regular structure, while the white layer structure on the surface is scattered and irregular, and the content of calcite formed by elements Ca and C increases significantly; between the green matrix and the white layer on the surface, there are brown corrosion zones with obvious fluorescence effect and mainly composed of humic acid, which continuously extends inward along the corrosion cracks for accelerating the internal corrosion. This article, for the first time, argued for the corrosive and fluorescent humic acid bands that appear inside serpentine jade and cautions its role in investigating the corrosion of jade.

Abstract Tumour cells mainly generate energy from glycolysis, which is commonly coupled with lactate production even under normoxic conditions. As a critical lactate transporter, monocarboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4) is highly expressed in glycolytic tissues, such as muscles and tumours. Overexpression of MCT4 is associated with poor prognosis for patients with various tumours. However, how MCT4 function is post-translationally regulated remains largely unknown. Taking advantage of human lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) cells, this study revealed that MCT4 can be polyubiquitylated in a nonproteolytic manner by SYVN1 E3 ubiquitin ligase. The polyubiquitylation facilitates the localization of MCT4 into the plasma membrane, which improves lactate export by MCT4; in accordance, metabolism characterized by reduced glycolysis and lactate production is effectively reprogrammed by SYVN1 knockdown, which can be reversed by MCT4 overexpression. Biologically, SYVN1 knockdown successfully compromises cell proliferation and tumour xenograft growth in mouse models that can be partially rescued by overexpression of MCT4. Clinicopathologically, overexpression of SYVN1 is associated with poor prognosis in patients with LUAD, highlighting the importance of the SYVN1-MCT4 axis, which performs metabolic reprogramming during the progression of LUAD.

Objective: The molecular weight Cudrania tricuspidata Fruits polysaccharide was prepared and the effect of different molecular weight on their antioxidant activity was further explored. Methods: The low molecular weight cudge polysaccharide was prepared by H2O2/VC degradation method using cudge fruit as raw material. The polysaccharides before and after degradation were analyzed for their physicochemical properties using high performance gel permeation chromatography and ion chromatography, and compared for their total antioxidant activity, reducing ability, DPPH radical scavenging rate and OH radical scavenging rate. Results: The suitable ratio of this cudge polysaccharide degradation by H2O2/VC method was H2O2:VC=1.5:1, and the five kinds of cudge polysaccharide ZGB, ZGC, ZGD, ZGE and ZGF (Mn 49.9, 30.5, 27.6, 25.9, and 28.9 kDa) were obtained. The structure did not change significantly after degradation by infrared spectrogram analysis. IC analysis showed that it was composed of rhamnose, arabinose, galactose, glucose, xylose galacturonic acid and a small amount of glucosamine hydrochloride and mannose. All the five kinds of polysaccharides with low molecular weight had antioxidant activity, which was positively correlated with its concentration. Among them, ZGD (H2O2:VC=30:20 mmol/L) had the best antioxidant activity, compared with crude polysaccharide, its total antioxidant activity and reducing capacity increased by 42.7% and 10.8%, respectively, and the scavenging rate of ·OH increased by 56.3%, while the scavenging rate of DPPH· was not significantly enhanced, and the scavenging rate was 87.44%. Conclusion: After degradation, the antioxidant activity of polysaccharide ZGD is the best.

Abstract Aim Analysed clinical characteristics and influencing factors for hypoglycemia in hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and providing a scientific reference for precision nursing care of hypoglycemia in hospitalized patients with T2DM. Design A cross‐sectional study. Methods This study involved 378 hospitalized patients diagnosed with T2DM who have suffered hypoglycemia. Through questionnaires and electronic medical records to obtain the data concerning the general information, clinical symptoms, all recorded blood glucose information, and the diabetes knowledge and self‐management level of the patients. The clinical characteristics and influencing factors for hypoglycemia were analysed on the basis of the classification of hypoglycemia published by the American Diabetes Association in 2020. Results Among 378 patients, 207 patients (54.76%) were experiencing Grade 1 hypoglycemia and 171 patients (45.24%) were experiencing Grade 2 hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia and Grade 2 hypoglycemia in patients with T2DM occurred predominantly within the first 3 days of hospitalization. Hypoglycemia occurred most frequently after breakfast (74 cases, 19.6%), of which Grade 1 hypoglycemia and Grade 2 hypoglycemia accounted for 50%, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression identified risk factors for Grade 2 hypoglycemia in hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes: older age, longer duration of diabetes, low body weight, diabetic nephropathy stages 4–5, diabetic autonomic neuropathy, inadequate self‐management ability and diabetes knowledge, and lower educational background. Conclusions Hypoglycemia in type 2 diabetes occurs in the first 3 days during the hospitalization and most often after breakfast during the full day. Identifying high‐risk individuals and providing a scientific reference for precision nursing care of hypoglycemia in hospitalized patients with T2DM.

Abstract Objective It is critical to early monitor and manage small-for-gestational age (SGA) infants with truly adverse outcomes not detected by conventional methods. We aimed to explore the value of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI)-based virtual magnetic resonance elastography (vMRE) and intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM)-based biexponential and stretched exponential parameters in predicting adverse outcomes of SGA infants. Methods Twenty SGA infants with adverse outcomes and forty without adverse outcomes were included in this prospective study. One DWI-based vMRE parameter [the stiffness value (μ diff)], five IVIM–based parameters [true diffusion coefficient (D), pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D * ), perfusion fraction (f), diffusion distribution coefficient (DDC), and diffusion heterogeneity index (Alpha)] and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were calculated and compared between groups. The predictive efficiency was compared by the logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The relationship between the μ diff value with gestational age was also evaluated. Results The placental μ diff value was remarkably higher, and the f, DDC, and ADC values were considerably lower in the SGA infants with adverse outcomes compared with those without adverse outcomes. The μ diff and f value were predictive risk factors for SGA infants with adverse outcomes. A combined predictive model (μ diff and f) improved the predictive efficacy. Moreover, there was no statistically significant correlation between the placental stiffness value and gestational age. Conclusions Functional MRI parameters to quantify placenta elastography and microcirculation in SGA patients. This might be a useful tool to assess placental function and a vital non-invasive supplement for predicting adverse outcomes of SGA infants. Critical relevance statement This prospective study shows DWI-based virtual magnetic resonance elastography and intravoxel incoherent motion-based functional parameters to quantify placenta elastography and microcirculation in small-for-gestational-age patients, which could complement existing non-invasive methods for monitoring and predicting neonatal perinatal adverse outcome. Key points • vMRE is an emerging non-invasive imaging technique for evaluating placenta stiffness. • SGA infants with adverse outcome have stiffer placental elasticity and lower microcirculation. • Risk factors combination displayed better efficacy in predicting adverse outcomes of SGA. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Background Bioresorbable stents are designed to provide temporary mechanical support to the coronary arteries and then slowly degrade in vivo to avoid chronic inflammation. Zinc (Zn) is a promising material for bioresorbable stents; However, it can cause inflammation and neointimal formation after being implanted into blood vessels. Methods To improve biocompatibility of Zn, we first coated it with polydopamine (PDA), followed by immobilization of endothelial vascular growth factor (VEGF) onto the PDA coatings. Adhesion, proliferation, and phenotype maintenance of endothelial cells (ECs) on the coated Zn were evaluated in vitro. Then, a wire aortic implantation model in rats mimicking endovascular stent implantation in humans was used to assess vascular responses to the coated Zn wires in vivo. Thrombosis in aortas post Zn wire implantation, degradation of Zn wires in vivo, neointimal formation surrounding Zn wires, and macrophage infiltration and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling in the neointimas were examined. Results In vitro data showed that the PDA-coated Zn encouraged EC adhesion, spreading, proliferation, and phenotype maintenance on its surfaces. VEGF functionalization on PDA coatings further enhanced the biocompatibility of Zn to ECs. Implantation of PDA-coated Zn wires into rat aortas didn’t cause thrombosis and showed a faster blood flow than pure Zn or the Zn wires coated with VEGF alone. In addition, the PDA coating didn’t affect the degradation of Zn wires in vivo. Besides, the PDA-coated Zn wires reduced neointimal formation, increased EC coverage, decreased macrophage infiltration, and declined aggrecan accumulation in ECM. VEGF immobilization onto PDA coatings didn’t cause thrombosis and affect Zn degradation in vivo as well, and further increased the endothelization percentage as compared to PDA coating alone, thus resulting in thinner neointimas. Conclusion These results indicate that PDA coatings with VEGF immobilization would be a promising approach to functionalize Zn surfaces to increase biocompatibility, reduce inflammation, and inhibit neointimal formation after Zn implantation in vivo. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Objective Approximately 20%–30% of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) patients got unfavorable seizure control after surgery, and there was a discrepancy about the reasons for the surgical failure. The functional connectivity (FC) patterns obtained from stereo‐electroencephalography (SEEG) reveal information about the dynamics of the epileptic brain and the added value of extracting information that was not identifiable in the SEEG data using FC analysis. This study aims to find out the patterns of the potential epileptogenic network of failure patients and the electrophysiological predictors of reoperation. Methods From January 2012 to December 2019, the MTLE patients with surgical failure were reviewed, and all patients underwent SEEG‐guided reoperation. The epileptogenic network was quantified by calculating FC indicators, including phase slope index (PSI), mutual information (MI) strength, imaginary coherence (icoh), and Granger causality. Results Ten patients with 13 seizures were included in the analysis, and 7 of them achieved a favorable outcome after the SEEG‐guided reoperation. The surgical zone (SZ) with a favorable prognosis showed greater outward information flow than the non‐SZ, whereas the SZ with an unfavorable prognosis showed greater inward information flow. The recurrent patients with favorable prognosis had strong connectivity between the posterior hippocampus, temporal neocortex, and insula, whereas the patients with unfavorable prognosis showed strong functional connectivity between the insula and temporal–parietal‐occipital junction. The power spectrum of patients with favorable prognosis was significantly lower than that of patients with unfavorable prognosis, especially showing a more oscillation power of low frequency. Significance The SEEG‐guided reoperation could achieve favorable seizure control outcomes for recurrent patients. The FCs were a potential indicator to help construct the temporal epileptic network and predictor for the reoperative prognosis in the recurrent patients.